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mpmcaormula Determination- Magnesium Oxide Lab
Purpose: To determine the% Composition & Empirical Formula of Magnesium oxide.

Backg~ound: ~e have been talking about the uses of the formulas of compounds as well as how to
d~termi~e the s1m~lest (empirical) formula of a compound based on chemical analysis. The purpose of
this lab IS to put this knowledge to use. During this lab you will start with two separate elements and
create a compound. Using the mass of the elements that you begin with and the mass of the final
product, you should be able to determine the empirical formula of the compound, magnesium oxide.

In this experiment, the percent composition and empirical formula of magnesium oxide, the main
compound that is formed when magnesium metal combines with oxygen in air, will be determined.
Heating magnesium in the presence of air causes the metal to ignite and burn- lots of light and heat are
given off and a new compound is obtained. According to the law of conservation of mass, the total
mass of the products of a chemical reaction must equal the mass of the reactants. In the case of the
combustion of magnesium, the following equation must be true:

Mass of magnesium + Mass of oxygen = Mass of magnesium oxide

In both the initial mass of magnesium and the final mass of the magnesium oxide are measured, the
increase in mass must correspond to the mass of the oxygen that combined with magnesium. The
percent composition and empirical formula of magnesium oxide can then be calculated, based on the
combining ratios of magnesium and oxygen in the reaction.

Materials:
• Safety goggles • Clay triangle • Gas burner
• Crucible • Ring stand • Centigram balance
• Crucible lid • Ring support crucible tongs • Magnesium ribbon. (Mg)

Pre-Lab Questions:
A piece of iron weighting 85.65 g was burned in air. The mass of the iron oxide produced was
118.37 g.
I. Use the law of conservation of mass to calculate the ma~ of oxyg~n that reacted with iron.
t ~6S:; R:., ....l'j ~l\t , 3 7J kO ll f:i .37j
- 75:::> ft/::,3
~'2 .7'2 0 2.... - 3 2 .72j .
2. Use th!! m~ar m_ass of oxygen to calculate the number of moles of oxygen atoms m the product.
s 1.. 7Jl /iMI Oz -_ I \ .() L2:. wl Oz.
t&.1-(v= s2.,02..
3. Use the molar mass of iron to convert the mass of iron used to moles
qs&S6 ~-=-l '~ 1r~ · ~J - ']O - 1 fe
T1fS.SSjFu 1. 1· S ~ -

4. Use the ratio between the number of moles of oxygen atoms to calculate the empirical formula of
iron oxide.
'
Yittual Magnesium o
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Answer Sheet!.
Name: l r.'°'""- :,~\< l-,
Date: -~~
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~ Period: 6+-t.-..
Data Table·
Mass of Crucible and Lid
23 2 'fSC\ Mass or Magnesium Oxide
Mass of Crucible, Lid and
M2 Ribbon
- Mass or Magnesium
0 , I '\ s .,
2...3,'i ltt q 0 , 12.'(0,
Mass of Crucible, Lid and Mass of Oxygen C.0 1, q
Product 'l3 , L/ 10 -

? "3,'-l'iO l•, I ~
- l-!, , ''1 ::i
0/'l s., - 0011
0,0 7

Analyses and Conclusions:

Show all work and calculations. Please place all answers in boxes with the appropriate unites
and significant figures.

I . Detennine the mass •of magnesium used:

·1.. 3. '11 "I ~-
- l. ') , 1 'i 6., _9•~2<-1~ "~ µ~

l
2. Determine the number of moles of magnesium used:

0 ,12i5~ 1-'M-'J -::.. 10 .oos1 Ml M.:i

. . I --i.'"'. 3. f1 ~'i - - -
3. Determine the mass of magnesium ox'rde formed:
-~ ~. '-i '! O.,
-1... 3, 2'1 5;
·1 0 .1"1S c.. Me,, O
0
l
4. Determine the mass of oxygen that combined 'fith the magnesi um :

(.) , \'1..$0 -. ().071 c l ~

-o. 11... '1j ',,I

5. Calculate the number of moles of oxygen atoms that were used:

o)...Jf';\.O\ o ::.... o.co Y'-1 '"cw-.,) o1...

lb9 0
6. Calculate the ratio between the moles of magnesium used and the moles of oxygen used. Express
this ratio in simplest whole-number form.
1 ;..~{, •, I rte\ CZ.
c .cO Sl,, t1~·· .( 1
'-1 ,,,lvi. I
O
M "

-l
,(,0'1'{ .... ''IL( l ~ ,\ U c, .. I ('.. I ·"'
v ,
I . I':.. •. I _...., I ' '( \i ,.__ _J
 . .. la for magnesium oxide. After you find
7. Based on your experimental data, wnte the empmcal fo~~ 1 on the board as class data.
the answer to this question- place the results of your empmca1 ormu a

µ~o .
8. Is this the molecul · lest formula? ·
; •. ~•. ~I

0 · ::.r r 'I\ v,l\, ;l h_

{L r_.,J\.A r , l ,o
~lei.,;, ~lc.. SS ,:-,~ -l ~tC- l,Ni-<1..c.J\c..r 4of l"-V1 ~,
< •\ if,, ,lu,ie u 1lc..r +-tlf ;¼.,.l\"'-.
(:C'r ,...... 1,. • Hf/\c.t.,, .Jl,..i.:S ,- s +u.. cn,,eiµ,I
~r,..,..J l,, I c r -\ i.,. S i'Mplts+- \ct ,-,\.'-,
Answer the following two questions after viewing class data. .
9. Write a balanced chemical equation for the formation of magnesium oxide form magnesmm metal
and oxygen gas (a diatomic moleculi • .

2- \.A_ ' I .. l-1 + I ( - - ,;_' _... 1...~o, 0 (_ ~)

- \.) C.~:) =- l~1 u
10. Identify major sources of error in this experiment. Explain how the magnesium: oxygen ratio
would be affected by each error you identify. (J fl.!, Cf'rV r ocwele.s lo s ' ~
...j--\,,( ,:,rw ,.c-k

- OIi (-\-,
11. Explain what you learned from this lab- try to identify what you discovered and explained how you
achieved this information. r. r '-"""' :\ \At ; S: I k c:..c,C "e i vM C x; "- ' -
(£<>. B E,.i.e e: '"'"° (,l(;_~ r M ;'\_:r.:._ --\ he. µ c.._ ; ~ o f-
'
ec.(/)r r , ...-v,.r

- f--A.. \-e_c.~ -h c... ( q_ ~ i a ...\-"'Q... c ,

; /\ , 0 1,, ; L 1 , k.-s -t,J\.u\\.'..-tL
: Me-.~C?.. r r, )u.s f-o ,I\C\1\,,.,~ w c...S -f\,,o; r "'+.·o +"' l •'• · c. l 1 ,sh.(I\.J.\'c